手舞足蹈

shǒuwǔ-zúdǎo
idiom #22,744

Meanings

  1. 1 to dance for joy
  2. 2 to gesticulate excitedly
  3. 3 to be so happy one's hands and feet move involuntarily

Examples

Háizi men shōudào lǐwù hòu gāoxìng deshǒu wǔ zú dǎo.
The children were so happy after receiving gifts that they danced about with glee.
Tīngdào huòjiǎng xiāoxi, tā jīdòng deshǒu wǔ zú dǎo.
Upon hearing the news that he had won, he was so excited he was jumping for joy.

Tips

memory
The idiom pictures the body in full joyful motion: (hands) (dancing) (feet) (stomping/dancing). All four limbs in motion = uncontainable excitement. Picture a child doing a happy dance.

Stroke Order

shǒu
dǎo